Businesses seek answers on health care act

Edward Leeds of Ballard Spahr LLP and Dr. Winslow Murdoch talk about changing health care coverage and the employer’s role during an Exton Region Chamber of Commerce event last week. Photo by Bill Rettew

EXTON — Four dozen Exton Region Chamber of Commerce members grappled with the complexities of the Affordable Health Care Act last week at the Wyndham Garden Exton Valley Forge.

A panel of five health care experts told chamber members Thursday how the act might affect their businesses.

Dave Dixon, district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Philadelphia District office, compared the ever-evolving act to a fast moving train.

“As small business owners we look at this and go, ‘Oh my God, it is complicated.’” Dixon said.

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Dr. Winslow Murdoch of Total Access Medical LLC., said many doctors are “running for the hills” because of what he said is an “unfunded mandate.”

He said navigating the new rules, many of which take effect Jan. 1, 2014, are a challenge for physicians.

“Most doctors aren’t understanding how this is going to work,” Murdoch said.

The doctor talked about the trend for physicians to band together, and join corporations, rather than operate on their own.

Doctors are progressively losing decision making – they’re “sold out” by big government, said Murdoch. “Central issues are taken over by corporate interests and not the patient’s interests.”

Panel moderator Linda Raileanu said physicians are losing autonomy.

“Medicine is not always a science, but an art,” she said.

Murdoch predicted the industry will right itself within five to seven years.

“We want to take ownership, we want to be patient advocates, that’s why we went into this,” said Murdoch. “That love, passion and commitment to the patients is still there.”

Chamber members heard about the differences between company sizes and how the act will determine who pays for insurance. Discussion centered primarily on government imposed 50-employee threshold, and a decision by business owners to provide health insurance through a shop exchange, or give employees the option to buy.

Dickson noted that employers want to retain a trained workforce.

“Each of you is in competition with each other,” he said. “It’s your employees that make your business. You can shoot yourself in the foot.”

Edward Leeds, an attorney with Ballard Spahr LLP, told the group that times are changing.

“Every employer is nervous, but down the road, it becomes a financial decision,” Leeds said.”There are options available you didn’t have in the past.”

Leeds said most employers don’t need to worry because their current health care plans are sufficient.

“You’re going to find almost always that your plans are going to satisfy the requirements,” he said

Chamber member Bonnie Asbury of HR Masters LCC predicted from her seat in the audience that many companies will hire more part time workers.

“(The act) will decrease the value of quality of what employees can get and impact take home pay,” said Asbury.

Dickson suggested chamber members explore the options at three government websites: